Miami International Airport: Structure, Funding & Operations

Overview of Miami International Airport

The Miami International Airport (code MIA) generates upwards of $30 billion in revenue per year, bringing in the vast majority — 70% — of all international visitors to the entire state of Florida ("About Us," 2017). MIA is therefore a gateway airport to Florida, not just to Miami. Furthermore, MIA serves as the gateway linking Latin America and the Caribbean with the United States, handling more flights to and from these regions than any other airport in the country ("About Us," 2017). According to MIA's own website, the airport's goal is to become a "hemispheric hub" ("About Us," 2017). However, several impediments stand in the way of MIA reaching that status, the most significant being its outdated infrastructure and terminals — shortcomings also reflected in its aging and cumbersome website.

Organizational Structure

Airports in the United States exhibit different types of organizational structure depending in part on their ownership. Most American airports (73%) have a senior manager, while 13% have a fixed-base operator (FBO) serving as airport manager (National Academies of Science, n.d., p. 3). Municipalities, counties, port authorities, and private owners may all hold stakes in airports. MIA is fully owned by Miami-Dade County, specifically through its Miami-Dade Aviation Department. MIA's organizational structure closely resembles that of a corporation, with an Aviation Director as the senior manager. Beneath the Aviation Director, the structure includes a Deputy Director, Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, and a host of assistant directors ("Executive Leaders," n.d.).

Regardless of its internal organizational structure, MIA — like all American airports — is responsible and accountable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA establishes and enforces the regulations governing MIA's operations. The State of Florida also maintains its own aviation plans, which relate more specifically to capital budgeting, infrastructure improvements and developments, and maintenance (National Academies of Science, n.d.). Daily operations, however, remain the province of the MIA Aviation Director.

The organizational hierarchy at MIA focuses on chief daily duties including, but not limited to, quality management, coordination, public outreach, strategic planning, public safety, environmental stewardship, and legal responsibilities (National Academies of Science, n.d.). To facilitate coordination of services, MIA maintains multiple divisions covering human resources, information systems, communications, cash management, land use grants, real estate development, marketing, and more ("Executive Leaders," n.d.).

Governmental Roles and NPIAS Classification

The Miami-Dade Aviation Department is the arm of Miami-Dade County government primarily responsible for all county airports, including MIA. Executives at MIA work directly for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department ("Executive Leaders," n.d.). In addition to the county government's role, MIA is accountable to the FAA, as are all American airports. MIA also operates a Protocol Office, which "coordinates all logistics associated with diplomatic arrivals and departures with representatives of the airlines operating at MIA and with U.S. government agencies" ("Protocol and International Affairs," n.d.). The relevant government agencies include Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Secret Service ("Protocol and International Affairs," n.d.).

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report lists MIA as the largest regional hub concentrating on passengers and freight, with "limited general aviation activity" (NPIAS 2009–2013). According to the NPIAS report, MIA boasts the most international enplanements in the country, a figure forecasted to grow further due to the addition of new low-cost carriers and large aircraft such as the A380 (NPIAS 2009–2013). MIA was also recently a test site for FAA-led air quality improvement projects (NPIAS 2009–2013). However advanced MIA's current capabilities are, the report notes that "improvements may be warranted" to "keep pace with rapid growth in international cargo," particularly regarding transfer facilities (NPIAS 2009–2013, p. 55).